I played Monument Valley on my phone which is a game created by Ustwo. Based on the difficulty of the game due to its mechanics, it seems as if the target audience is for those who are age 10 and up. This game is a single player game which uses the ideas of discovery with notes of challenge and fantasy through the app’s impressive visuals. The game uses optical illusions and puzzling mechanics to create an environment in which the player is constantly second guessing their next move. It is the true definition of a puzzle.It makes the player think and allows them to enjoy amazing visuals in the process. Nothing is too obvious and each moment of success drives the player to move forward.
The use of optical illusions is the focal point of the game. The player is repeatedly altering the physical portions of the map in unexpected ways in order to get the character to its desired destination. While the maps seem to be three dimensional, the way in which the player alters the physical portions makes it act as if it has always been two dimensional. This was the most difficult part to get used to, but once you do, you end up loving the game.
While my experience with Monument Valley was nearly fully positive, that does not mean that there cannot be changes made to the game. There were portions of each level where I found it difficult to move on or alter the map in the way that I was meant to. While this makes the game fun most of the time, it was a bit frustrating to have to wait until I figured out how to pass a level even if it took a long time. What would maybe help is giving the player the opportunity to gain a hint if they are taking too long on a level.
Despite the single critique, the game was great. I enjoyed being stimulated as well as enjoyed the visuals. I would definitely recommend!
